Campaigners in Italy urge pope to stop ‘sacrifice’ of 200-year-old tree for Xmas

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Twenty-nine-metre tall fir destined to be chopped down and transported to St Peter’s Square in the Vatican

Environmental campaigners in Italy’s northern Trentino province have started a campaign to stop the felling of a 200-year-old fir tree intended to form the centrepiece of the Vatican’s Christmas decorations.

The so-called “Green Giant” is 29 metres tall and is due to be chopped down next week in a forest in the Ledro valley before being transported to the Vatican and positioned in St Peter’s Square, where it will be unveiled on 9 December.

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Pyongyang ratifies strategic partnership with Russia that reportedly contains secret clause authorizing North Korea’s Ukraine intervention – Meduza

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  1. Pyongyang ratifies strategic partnership with Russia that reportedly contains secret clause authorizing North Korea’s Ukraine intervention  Meduza
  2. North Korea Approves Deal With Moscow That Allows Troop Deployment  Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
  3. North Korea ratifies mutual defence treaty with Russia  Reuters
  4. North Korea ratifies landmark mutual defence treaty with Russia  Al Jazeera English
  5. North Korea Ratifies Major Defense Treaty with Russia  Military.com
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Russia Convicts Doc Accused of Saying Soldier Deserved to Die – Newser

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  1. Russia Convicts Doc Accused of Saying Soldier Deserved to Die  Newser
  2. Russian Doctor, Accused of Antiwar Stance, Is Jailed After Child’s Testimony  The New York Times
  3. Moscow doctor accused by patient of criticising war is jailed for five years  The Guardian
  4. Russia Jails 68-Year-Old Pediatrician for 5 Years Over Alleged War Comments  Newsweek
  5. Russian doctor jailed for 5-1/2 years after being publicly denounced  Reuters
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Ukraine war poses threat to America, NATO chief stresses in message to Trump – POLITICO Europe

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  1. Ukraine war poses threat to America, NATO chief stresses in message to Trump  POLITICO Europe
  2. NATO chief warns of threat from Russian ties with China, Iran, North Korea  Reuters
  3. News: NATO Secretary General and President Macron discuss defence production and Ukraine , 12-Nov.-2024  NATO HQ
  4. NATO should provide more support to Ukraine to change trajectory of conflict - Rutte  Ukrinform
  5. NATO chief warns that the alliance can't afford to not back Ukraine as Trump snatches a White House win  Business Insider
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Doctor accused of criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine is convicted and given over 5 years in prison – The Associated Press

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  1. Doctor accused of criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine is convicted and given over 5 years in prison  The Associated Press
  2. Russian Doctor, Accused of Antiwar Stance, Is Jailed After Child’s Testimony  The New York Times
  3. Moscow doctor accused by patient of criticising war is jailed for five years  The Guardian
  4. Russian doctor jailed for 5-1/2 years after being publicly denounced  Reuters
  5. Russia Jails 68-Year-Old Pediatrician for 5 Years Over Alleged War Comments  Newsweek
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Germany plans February election after coalition collapse – BBC.com

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  1. Germany plans February election after coalition collapse  BBC.com
  2. German government collapse could have silver lining for Europe's markets  Reuters
  3. The briefcase, the Porsche and the collapse of the German government – podcast  The Guardian
  4. Germany sets early election date for February after collapse of the ruling coalition  CNBC
  5. German leader set to ask for Dec. 16 confidence vote, paving way for election as early as February  The Associated Press
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Moscow doctor accused by patient of criticising war is jailed for five years

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Ukraine-born Nadezhda Buyanova was accused of referring to young patient’s late soldier father as ‘legitimate target’

A Russian court has sentenced an elderly Moscow paediatrician to five and a half years in prison after the mother of one of her patients publicly denounced her for comments she allegedly made about Russian soldiers in Ukraine during a private consultation.

Nadezhda Buyanova, 68, was accused in January by the ex-wife of a soldier killed in Ukraine of referring to her child’s father as a “legitimate target of Ukraine” and saying Russia was “guilty” in the ongoing war.

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